 Source of image: www.nbrb.by
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| HOUSE – WARMING
In traditional culture of the Belarusians, Russians, and Poles a house, as a place where a family lived its life, was of great importance, was seen as the antithesis of the outside world, and was, therefore, the subject of various rites, customs, and beliefs that were based on the idea of inseparability of the future of a new house from the future of the family which would live therein. At the same time, these customs and rites blended in perfectly with the man-environment relationships with each nation's moral and religious principles behind it. A mix of customs, rites, and beliefs accompanied, one after another, all the stages of the construction of and moving into the new house, namely: storing up building materials and making choices about the construction site; beginning and completing the construction; moving in; and house-warming.
Timber was the most popular construction material for the Slavs, In constructing a new house, people steered clear of ill-fated places', such as crossroads, street corners, abandoned cemeteries, and murder sites lest the family be dogged by misfortunes and ailments.
Money, grain, wool, bits of cheese, the head of a rooster or a hen - a sort of 'sacrifice to the construction' - were placed under the corners of the house to be built. While completing the construction, the topmost timberwork was sprinkled with grain and hops to guarantee the household wealth and fertility.
On the eve of moving into the new house the family let a rooster or a cat enter it first - this was seen as a sort of fetish for averting illnesses and likely hardships. The event was timed to coincide with the full moon - so that the family were comfortably off - and was held on Saturday. By tradition, the spouses were required to step across the threshold of their new dwelling together in order to live in harmony, love, and mutual understanding. The hosts and guests came in car¬rying a fire, icons, a table, bread and salt, a pot of porridge, and a barrel of dough, i.e. the things that were symbolic of wealth, prosperity, and fertility. Attributes of Christianity, such as a Candelas taper, as well as holy water and greenery were used to consecrate the house. The first thing they did was to fix and decorate icons in the sacred corner, then the tables were laid, a prayer was offered up, and a meal was eaten.
The house-warming party was held, as often as not, on the day of moving house. Guests brought presents and dropped coins onto the floor in order for the household to be in the money. Women always brought some sweet, such as honey, sugar, and pastry so that the fam¬ily were happy at their new home. The most witty and cheery of the guests kept the table entertained; those present at the feast wished the household well; songs were followed by dances and dances by table talk. The hosts strived to wine and dine their guests so that the family lived comfortably off thereafter.
A.I. Lakotka
PhD (Architecture, History), Professor
Text from the official flyer “House-warming” of the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus
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| Date : 24.06.2008 |
| Metal : Cu/Ni |
| Diameter, mm : 32.00 |
| Weight, g : 13.16 |
| Mintage, St. : 5000 |
Minted by :
The Mint of Poland PLC., Warsaw, Poland |
Design :
S.Nekrasova | | | 
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Ebay-Statistic
(Prices in Euro):
| Year |
Count |
Ave
rage |
Min. |
Max. |
| 2006 |
0 |
0,00 |
0,00 |
0,00 |
| 2007 |
0 |
0,00 |
0,00 |
0,00 |
| 2008 |
23 |
11,41 |
1,00 |
16,50 |
| 2009 |
17 |
12,16 |
6,00 |
16,11 |
| 2010 |
8 |
10,15 |
8,00 |
12,40 |
| 2011 |
4 |
9,15 |
8,60 |
10,51 |
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